The articles reviewed in this paper are a supplement to a previous publication on college and university calendars. This new data tends to strongly reinforce the crucial point made in the previous study that indicated that college and university administrators have advocated one system, then another, without adequate empirical follow-up of the…

History of the academic calendar. (HS)

This document reports the results of a survey conducted to determine (1) the types of academic calendars being used in colleges and universities in the U.S.: and (2) the changes taking place. Six types of calendars are defined: the traditional semester calendar; the trimester calendar; the 4-1-4 calendar; and other calendars. The survey was very…

Researchers urge adoption of a standardized college calendar and express a few preferences. (Editor)

THE REPORT IS CONFINED TO THE QUESTION OF THE PREFERABLE CALENDAR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND CALIFORNIA STATE COLLEGES, AND IS NOT SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED WITH THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR INSTITUTION OF YEAR-ROUND OPERATIONS, SUCH AS POSSIBLE LONG-TERM SAVINGS IN COSTS AND BENEFITS TO STUDENTS. THE FOUR-QUARTER CALENDAR IS SUGGESTED OVER…

The annual survey shows 75 institutions changing for 1983-84. The early semester calendar was the only type to gain, adding 49 institutions, but the overall distribution of calendar types has changed little. Most using traditional semesters are in California or New York. Only 8 percent use the 4-1-4 schedule. (MSE)

THIS SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO EXAMINE THE EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY AND DESIRABILITY OF YEAR-ROUND OPERATION OF LOS ANGELES JUNIOR COLLEGES, TO EVALUATE THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS FOR CALENDAR CHANGE, TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND TO DESCRIBE THE ORDERLY STEPS REQUIRED FOR TRANSITION. MATERIALS WERE…

The calendar systems used at 3,387 colleges and universities in 1982 were identified. Comparisons to the systems used in 1978 and 1981 also were made. It was found that the predominant calendar type in use has been and continues to be the semester. From 1978 to 1981, there was a 2 percent increase in the use of the semester system nationwide, with…

ANTICIPATING A CHANGE FROM A SEMESTER TO A QUARTER SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION, CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SURVEYED 357 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (EACH WITH 3,000 OR MORE ENROLLED) TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDARS BEING USED, THE METHOD OF SCHEDULING EVENING CLASSES, THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS PER WEEK, AND THE LENGTH OF CLASS SESSIONS.…

A three-phase study was conducted at the College of the Redwoods (C/R) to determine if the college calendar should be changed, and if so, how. The first phase of the study consisted of establishing priority criteria for consideration of alternative forms of calendar organization, identification of calendar alternatives, and compilation of a list…

Since the 1960s, many colleges and universities have shortened their school years. Driven by debate about the quality of undergraduate education and about whether students are getting their money's worth in college, some institutions are reexamining their academic calendars. Practical considerations, including student attendance patterns, make…

The number of days in each quarter, semester, or trimester is compared for academic years 1968-69 and 1993-94, for 10 private and 10 public colleges and universities. Intersessions and January sessions are included. Total number of days per year have decreased in almost all these cases and now vary from 134 to 172. (MSE)

After reviewing types of college calendars (traditional semester, early semester, trimester, and quarter) and previous research on the use of various school calendars, this paper describes a survey conducted by Ocean County College, a medium-sized college currently using a traditional semester calendar, to determine the views of students, faculty,…

This document provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of five different academic calendars, including: traditional semester, early semester, quarter, trimester, and "4-1-4." The present California State Code defines the academic year of the California Community Colleges as 175 days, based on the K-12 standard. This…

A trend toward adoption of the early-semester calendar, which runs from August to May with exams before Christmas vacation is discussed, along with other changes in college scheduling for curriculum development, increased efficiency, student job scheduling, student retention, and decreased paperwork. (MSE)